Police are appealing for help to trace the occupants of a silver Mercedes that was damaged in Bulwell following a robbery.

A collision happened between the Mercedes and a black Peugeot 206 that was exiting the Wilkinson car park, in Main Street, shortly after a security van driver was assaulted and a cash box was stolen.

The incident happened at around 11.30am on Tuesday,  December 16.

Anybody with any information should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111. 

THE word of the week for me is a simple one… consistency.

Consistency is the one thing, more than anything else, that Nottingham Forest need right now.

Forget about Financial Fair Play and transfer embargoes (although we will come to that later), because neither will really impact on their promotion hopes this season.

No, the deciding factor for me is consistency in team selection and, just as importantly, consistency where the manager's office is concerned.

We all know that Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi gets a little twitchy at this time of the year, as proved when he sacked Sean O'Driscoll on Boxing Day two years ago.

And, a few years prior to that, under the tenure of Nigel Doughty, it was Colin Calderwood who got his marching orders the day after Christmas.

This is not traditionally a good time for Forest managers – but that is one tradition I do not want to see maintained this time around.

If you include caretaker bosses, there have been 14 different managers at Forest over the past decade, including two spells for Billy Davies. That is far too many.

Even if you do not include caretaker managers, Stuart Pearce is the tenth man to take on the role in the past ten years. He is also the sixth manager since Al Hasawi arrived at the City Ground in July 2012.

We do not need a seventh, not when Pearce has not yet had six months in which to stamp his influence on the side.

Yes, Forest have won only two games in 14 Championship outings. But let's see how the season pans out, before we rush to any rash decisions.

But there is one habit I would love to see the Reds – and Pearce – get themselves into.

In the three matches coming up over the Christmas period, Forest must pick their best team and stick with it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Injuries and suspensions aside, forget about tinkering; about tactical changes to reflect the nuances of the opposition side – and just pick your best side, Stuart.

When confidence is a bit low, when results are hard to come by, putting your faith in a group of players can be a good way of giving them belief; of sending out the message that you have faith in them.

Pearce has not tinkered too much with the back-four lately, only bringing in Kelvin WIlson for Jamaal Lascelles at Rotherham, which may or may not have been for football reasons – and they kept a clean sheet at Rotherham.

The issue was up front, where Forest lacked cutting edge.

But changing personnel is not always the best way of finding that. Giving a team time to gel can be just as important.

My reference point is my own experience at Forest. Football has changed massively, I know that – and it would not be possible now. But the successes we had were largely achieved through a group of 16 or so players.

That would be impossible now, but the theory remains the same. Many managers seem to change things for the sake of change sometimes.

But, with tough games coming up against Leeds at home, at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and versus Birmingham at the City Ground after that, consistency really could help.

I am convinced it will when it comes to the manager. Pearce needs time to continue the good work he has done so far. Most Forest fans would agree with that, I suspect. It needs to be remembered that it is normally only the more negative among supporters who make the loudest noise, particularly with the rise of social media.

There is a demand for immediate success – and a belief among many that change is the only option, if and when that does not happen.

Forest have a good team. A win against Leeds would be a good start. A few good results against Boro and Birmingham would be an even better end to 2014.

And there are more questions than answers where Financial Fair Play and the transfer embargo situation is concerned.

Yes, Forest have breached the guidelines that they knew were in place, by losing more money than they were allowed to lose last season.

They broke the rules and they were punished, rightly, as a result of that. But my issue is that there is seemingly still so much doubt hanging over the rules themselves.

QPR, currently, are contesting whether they should pay a £50m+ fine for breaching spending limits themselves, last season, as they made the step up into the Premier League. If they are successful, it will, in theory, open up the floodgates for every other club punished under FFP rules, to do the same.

Whether other clubs are fined or put under a transfer embargo, the QPR situation will have set a precedent for everyone who is punished under FFP rules, to make their own legal challenge.

And the rules are set to change again anyway, at the end of next season. In the meantime, Forest, Leeds and Blackburn have been hit by a transfer embargo that isn't an embargo. Confused anyone?

Surely the best thing for the Football League to do would have been to postpone any kind of sanctions or punishments until the QPR situation was resolved?

To me, it is a great idea to protect the financial safety of clubs. But it has been very, very poorly executed.

A TAP DANCING pensioner is hoping to bring the festive spirit – and go viral – with an upbeat Christmas song partly written by his mum.

Peter Parsons, of Rodwell Close, Beechdale, dressed up in his friend's Father Christmas outfit to record the video and showed-off his favourite tap steps.

His dances are superimposed in front of Christmas images of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – who starred in the 1942 Christmas classic Holiday Inn.

Mr Parsons, 71, said: "I thought it would be something a bit different and I'd always wanted to do something to do with tap dancing.

"I've had lessons but I'm no pro. People who have listened to it told me the tap dancing you hear in the song sounds like clapping. Those feet you see tapping away are definitely me."

And Mr Parsons is hoping his Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho It's a Christmas Day (corr)video will take him to the dizzy heights of internet stardom.

"I hope it takes off," he said. "You only need one video to go viral these days. If you get a good Christmas one it gets used every year."

It is not Mr Parsons' first attempt at replicating Youtube sensations. Last year, he released his Gone to the Dogs video, based around the theme of greyhound racing, in a bid to equal the success of Korean rapper Psy's two billion-view record Gangnam Style. But with just 4,385 hits to date, he is hoping Christmas clickers will give him the views he needs to go viral.

And as with his latest video, Gone With the Dogs was inspired by an unfinished song that his mother, Adele, wrote in the 1960s.

When she died in 2002, her dying wish was for her son Peter to record a song she wrote called Geordie Land.

He did just that, and it is now used as a promotional video for the city of Newcastle.

His wife Irene said: "We hope it gets really popular, he's spent years trying and he deserves it."

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho It's Christmas Day is the first of the videos that Mrs Parsons, 82, has appeared in.

"I sometimes have to encourage him," she said. "So it's nice to have appeared in one."

So what is Mr Parsons' next video going to entail?

"Everyone's talking about Robin Hood and it has the Nottingham angle," he said. "So I'm thinking of a comedic twist on Robin Hood."

A SOLDIER from Nottingham will lead servicemen and women in the British Army after graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Second lieutenant Nia Watson-Campbell, 25, was one of more than 200 officer cadets to complete 44 weeks of intensive military and academic training.

She is now looking forward to the task of commanding a platoon of 30 soldiers.

2Lt Watson-Campbell, who will join the Royal Artillery, took part in the Sovereign's Parade in front of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter.

She said: "Graduating from Sandhurst as an officer in the British Army makes me extremely proud.

"It's one of the biggest challenges I have ever undertaken, but also one of the most rewarding.

"I wanted to find a career where I would be continually challenged and made to work outside of my comfort zone - Sandhurst has offered me all of that and more.

"The training and support I have received has been excellent and I cannot wait to start putting it into practice with the Royal Artillery and to be given the chance to make my contribution on both operations and humanitarian projects overseas."

Mr Fallon said: "Passing out from Sandhurst means they have joined the ranks of some of the best trained and most highly respected Army officers in the world."

UNWANTED bikes are needed by a Nottingham charity to help disabled people learn how to cycle.

RideWise launched the appeal to collect and re-condition bicycles no longer being used before putting them back on the road.

It is part of the Cycling for All project to give free cycle training to disabled people and anyone else wanting to learn how to ride a bike - helping them gain confidence and independence.

The project is funded by Nottingham City Council's local sustainable transport fund and will run for a third year from March to October.

RideWise chief executive Gary Smerdon-White said: "I'm pleased we are able to continue our very successful programme in 2015 - however, we really do need more bikes to meet the specialised needs of our diverse group of cyclists.

"If you've got a special bike that you are not using, like a reclining bike, hand propelled bike or a tricycle let us know and we can come and ensure it will help someone to get the enjoyment of cycling."

The first Cycling for All event will be held at Queens Drive Park and Ride on Sunday, March 15 from 10am to 1pm.

Sessions, held on the third Thursday of each month, offer free bike try-outs, training and advice from instructors.

To donate a bike contact Flo Bass at RideWise on 0115 955 2288 or customerservicesupport@ridewise.org.uk.  

SHAUN Derry admits it hurt to see Notts County's Wembley dream come to an end but says they can use the heartache as a catalyst for league glory.

The Magpies boss watched his side lose to Preston on Tuesday night as they crashed out of the Northern Area semi-finals 1-0 at Meadow Lane.

It brought an end to the Magpies' hopes of a day out under the famous arch, which has left them vying for League One honours.

And Derry says the disappointment which had gripped the dressing room at letting a golden chance slip by can spur them on.

"I always say it's how you respond to adversity which counts," he said.

"And to be fair, we responded well against Preston from the defeat to Swindon at the weekend.

"That was a pretty low Saturday, but I actually thought we played okay on Tuesday.

"We took control of the game at times against a team full of quality.

"There was a disappointment in the dressing room, as you would expect.

"I was honest with them, but we can channel that disappointment into our league form in the right way."

Tuesday's defeat was not the ideal way to start a tricky run of fixtures in the weeks ahead, when Notts will face sides in and around them in the race for a top six position.

MK Dons and Bradford are on the horizon in what will be two incredibly hard games, but first up it's a visit to Rochdale this weekend.

Dale have defied expectation after being promoted from League Two last season and despite a modest budget are also hoping to finish in the top six.

It will be an emotional occasion for midfielder Gary Jones who won promotion with the club during his time at Spotland which brought an end to years of mediocrity.

The 37-year-old played more than 400 games for Keith Hill's side in two spells with the club and is regarded as a legend.

And he says he cannot wait to go back with the aim of securing an important three points.

"I had a wonderful time there and the highlight was getting promoted with them four years ago, which was like the first time in 60 years or something ridiculous like that," he said.

"That was probably the highlight but I am really looking forward to going back.

"After two disappointing results against Swindon and Preston I can't wait to go there and hopefully come away with three points.

"We are all hurting after coming so close in the JPT.

"But we go there with a point to prove and if we play well we will win."

Jones admitted he was hurting at losing the chance of playing at Wembley, having done so with Bradford City.

But he said there was an important lesson to be learned from the defeat to Preston, which was his side had to be more clinical in front of goal.

"I know how they feel, we've come so close and yet so far. To go out like that, it's the scruffiest goal you've ever seen to be fair," he said.

"We've had clearcut chances in the first half and second half, but we've got to be ruthless in those situations, we've got to put the ball in the net and if you don't do that you don't win games," he added.

"I think the first 10, 15 minutes we were a bit hesitant, maybe it was a bit of lack of confidence from Saturday, I'm not sure, but second half we grew into the game and we had a great chance. Stephen McLaughlin's had a great chance, but as I said before, if you don't put the ball in the net, you don't go through."

FILMMAKERS have taken to the air to capture footage for a new English Civil War multi-media project.

A special drone equipped with a camera flew over Newark Castle's grounds and recorded images on Tuesday, December 16.

It will be used in a smartphone and tablet app taking visitors on a journey through the 17th century war as part of the £5.4m National Civil War Centre opening in Newark next spring.

In a "town trail" being created as part of the project, as people arrive at Newark landmarks the app will trigger a series of 40-second films.

They will re-create stories of both historic figures and ordinary people.

Film crews have previously captured footage of historic battle re-enactments in Sherwood Forest.

They have also filmed at street-level using "airwheels" technology, which enables smooth and fast footage.

Project manager Deborah Johnson, from Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: "When the films are finished, the viewer will be able to see aerial and street-view shots of present-day Newark which will zip through and zoom into the key locations – the castle, sconce, market place, and show a scene from history from that location.

"So using the app and trigger image the viewer will quickly move through 21st century Newark, moving back in time for a few moments at each location to see what was happening there more than 300 years ago."

Drivers and bus passengers heading home in rush hour traffic will face delays as a crash has seen a section of Alfreton Road closed.

Police have cordoned off the road at its junction with Bentinck Road, in Radford, after the 4.25pm crash.

Three cars, including a Toyota Verso, a Vaunxhall Zafira and another vehicle were involved. Police are still identifying the final car.

Nobody has been reported as injured in the smash, but large tailbacks in rush hour traffic have built up.

Passengers on board Nottingham City Transport's turquoise 77 and 79 services have been diverted.

RTC: A610 Alfreton Road blocked in both directions at Bentinck Rd junction due to accident

— NottinghamTravelwise (@NottmTravelwise) December 17, 2014

Trent Barton's Rainbow One service has also been delayed as a result of the crash.

We have just been informed there has been an accident on the A610 (Alfreton Road) which is causing delays to rainbow 1

— trentbarton live (@trentbartonlive) December 17, 2014

TRENT Bridge will miss out on staging the Ashes in 2019, but five ICC Cricket World Cup matches will be staged at the Nottingham ground in the same year.

And the stadium will also play host to Test matches against South Africa and India, in 2017 and 2018 respectively, as part of a major package of matches awarded by the ECB.

Additionally, One-Day Internationals against the West Indies (2017), Australia and India (2018) will also be played at the ground, and NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day will return to Trent Bridge in 2019.

"We are delighted to have secured a significant volume of quality international cricket which will enable us to continue to deliver our strategy of sustained investment in our venue, our professional team and our community programmes," said Nottinghamshire Chief Executive Lisa Pursehouse.

"This outcome is fair reward for the commitment of our members and supporters, the work of our committee and staff and the support of our local authority and private sector partners who have done so much to help maintain our status as a Test Match Venue.

"The combination of quality Test cricket in 2017 and 2018 allied to prestigious Royal London One-Day Internationals and ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures is a fantastic outcome for cricket supporters across the east midlands."

In 2009, the club successfully staged ICC World Twenty20 matches, and they are looking forward to a similarly memorable experience ten years later.

"We last hosted an ICC Tournament in 2009 and it was such a fantastic experience for the whole County that we desperately wanted to do it again," said Pursehouse.

"Our presentation to the ECB focused on our track record of selling tickets, our policy of continual investment in our venue and the impact of our community schemes. Staging these matches will enable us to continue delivering in these three areas.

"We are really pleased to have five years of confirmed major matches and look forward to the prospect of a further round of bidding for matches to be staged between 2020 and 2022 in the New Year."

Confirmed major matches at Trent Bridge:

2015: England v Australia – Investec Ashes Test; England v New Zealand – Royal London One-Day International.

2016: England v Pakistan - Royal London One-Day International; England v Sri Lanka - Royal London One-Day International.

2017: England v South Africa – Investec Test Match; England v West Indies – Royal London One-Day International.

2018: England v India – Investec Test Match; England v India – Royal London One-Day International; England v Australia – Royal London One-Day International.

2019: NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day.

WORK is starting on a 130-home development - despite concerns from some householders living nearby.

Developer Bellway will shortly begin building the properties, on an eight-acre site in Hassocks Lane, next to Beeston Fire Station and Highfields sports fields.

The development, within walking distance of two new tram stations, will feature one to five-bedroom homes.

Although Bellway says it will enhance the community, several residents in adjoining streets say they are not happy with the scheme.

Groundwork is currently being carried out, ready for construction of the homes in the next few weeks.

Jenny Tordoff, a 41-year-old full-time mum from Queen's Road East, opposite Hassocks Lane, said: "This work is starting at the same time we have got the tram works down the end of the road.

"So not only have we got congestion from heavy plant machines for the trams coming down the road, we have also got the congestion and heavy plant machines going to the building site."

Up until 2007, the site was used as allotments and Ms Tordoff also expressed disappointment that this "community facility" had been lost.

Jan Fowkes, 60, who is semi-retired and a mother-of-three and grandmother-of-seven from nearby Tattershall Drive, said: "I don't think there are enough facilities around here for another 130 families."

But bus driver Stella Fox, 54, from Lambeth Court, welcomed the scheme.

She said: "It's good. We need more houses around here and it's pointless having wasteland and nothing happening to it."

Bellway's managing director Gary Mills said: "The detail of the development was discussed at length through the planning and consultation process.

"We are confident that the result of this is an attractive development which will enhance the local community."

Nottingham's heb Chartered Surveyors sold the land to Bellway on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council and Beeston Consolidated Charity.

Bellway sales director Ben Smith said: "We have already received enquiries from people who want to buy our homes in Beeston before we've even put up a sign."

The first homes are expected for sale in the spring.

Broxtowe Borough Council approved the scheme in October.

THE FIRST two Criminal Behaviour Orders have been handed out to nuisances in Nottingham.

The new court orders were introduced on October 1 to tackle anti-social behaviour linked with crime.

The first Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) was given to Lauren O'Brien, 19, who had terrorised the Sneinton area with a series of drunken incidents.

O'Brien, who lives in Newark, would visit an address in the area and was seen shouting and swearing in the street, kicking doors, assaulting police officers, damaging vehicles and verbally assaulting residents.

She was handed a two-year ban from entering Sneinton at a hearing on December 10.

The following day, another CBO was granted, this time on a bike thief from Broxtowe.

Gavin Abbott, 20, had targeted University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University for his thefts of bikes.

As well as the order, Abbott was also sent to a young offenders' institution for 20 weeks after pleading guilty to theft.

The news of the two orders have been welcomed by both the police and the council.

Richard Antcliff, head of neighbourhood enforcement at Nottinghamshire Police, said: "It is good to see that these new antisocial behaviour powers are coming into their own and helping communities by stamping out this type of behaviour. Hopefully persistent offenders of antisocial behaviour will think again before they act."

Councillor Dave Liversidge, portfolio holder for safety, said: "Antisocial behaviour can adversely affect neighbourhoods, causing misery to residents. These new powers provide a framework for our partners who can enforce these acts making our city safer for our citizens."

A DRUG dealer who was found cooking heroin in the buff has been jailed for seven years.

Andrew Frain, 28, of Cyril Avenue, Beeston, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday. (dec 17)

He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and possession of cannabis at an earlier hearing.

Investigations by Nottinghamshire Police linked Frain to an address in Outram Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield.

The force's Vanguard team, an ongoing campaign to tackle drug dealing and associated organised crime, tracked down Frain.

On October 29, officers searched the address and found Frain naked in the kitchen next to the cooker.

In the cupboard by the cooker, police found a white carrier bag containing brown powder, later found to be heroin, and a wrap of powder.

Further searches revealed more heroin under a bed, adding up to just under half a kilo in total. Police also found cannabis on the worktop next to the cooker and in the bedroom before arresting Frain.

Police constable Steve Fenyn said: "The message could not be clearer: if you deal in drugs in Nottinghamshire you will be caught.

"This result also reflects the dim view taken by the criminal justice system of people who infect our communities with controlled drugs and perpetuate the further crime inevitably stemming from them."

COUNCIL leaders will meet on Friday to thrash out a deal which could unlock powers to spend millions more on the local economy.

Representatives from Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and districts and boroughs will gather in Worksop to vote on the shape of a new body known as a combined authority.

If a deal is agreed it could pave the way for government to grant the city and county new powers under moves to devolve decision-making to city regions.

The majority of tax raised locally goes back to Whitehall, which then decides how much Notts gets back and the way much of it is spent.

A combined authority would enable Notts councils to keep more of their money and agree local spending priorities.

This could lead to greater integration of transport and money spent on skills and business support which is tailored to local needs.

Council leaders insist that a combined authority does not mean councils will be merged. It will be an umbrella organisation which enables them to coordinate economic development activities.

Councillor Graham Chapman, deputy leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "I think this is a potentially transformational moment and I'm very hopeful that all nine councils can agree to proceed. It will be much better for us all if we take a joined-up approach to economic development and strategic planning.

"At the moment we have a situation where we can't put money into skills in the way that our economy requires. Plugging our skills gaps is a top priority."

Mick Burrows, the chief executive of Nottinghamshire County Council said the pressure was on Notts councils to agree a deal to keep pace with other parts of England.

He said: "In theory, this enables us to bid for substantial sums of government money. But we would be doing so in competition with other parts of the country and it is important we are in the right shape to make progress quickly.

"If we don't do that before the government goes into pre-election purdah it could be another 18 months to two years before a deal is agreed."

In Manchester, a combined authority deal will be accompanied by the newly-created post of an elected metropolitan mayor, and the government has indicated it would like to see other regions adopt a similar model.

Councillor Jon Collins, the lead of Nottingham City Council, said having an elected mayor was a "side issue".

"In Manchester they've agreed a metro mayor model, in Leeds and Sheffield they are proceeding without that, so it's horses for courses. What we've got to do is satisfy government that we've got a model that is strong enough to make a combined authority work.

"The last thing people want is another load of elected politicians, and the turnout for things like the police and crime commissioner show us that. What they do want to see is their existing politicians getting on with the job better and more cost-effectively." He said

"It isn't about asking for more money, either. This is about setting some clear strategic priorities for things like transport and economic development, keeping more of the money that is raised locally, and spending it in a coordinated way which suits local needs."

He added: "We know our communities better than government and if we cooperate and integrate our services we will deliver better value than government."

IT was four years ago when Brazilian Greci Taylor came to Nottingham to be with her husband Rafael.

She has now been sworn in as a full British citizen as the county celebrated 10 years of citizenship ceremonies.

Around 13,000 people have been sworn in since 2004 and a further 35 were granted the status at a special ceremony held yesterday at the Council House.

Mrs Taylor, 28, had been living apart from her husband for two years before they moved in together in the United Kingdom.

She said: "I was not too pleased with the weather when I came here.

"I liked Nottingham though but I did struggle with the local accent.

"I really enjoy life here, I have a nice job working in a primary school and becoming a citizen makes me feel a little more like it's my home now - I just felt like it was a step I had to take.

"It is a proud moment for me."

Husband Rafael, 32, added: "I think the ceremony was wonderful, when my mother had hers, it was in a small county office in Telforge. It makes the day a bit more special."

Becoming a British citizen confers several rights and responsibilities on those who become one.

This includes being able to permanently live in the UK, being able to seek re-entry to the country without immigration restrictions and being granted all the rights available by the state to its members.

The ceremony was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Sir John Peace, Sheriff of Nottinghamshire councillor Jackie Morris and Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council Pauline Allen.

Sir John said: "British citizenship does carry with it some very important rights and responsibilities.

"Preserving law and order, freedom of speech, tolerance of beliefs of others.

"My warmest congratulations to you all on this wonderful day, it's a great, great pleasure to welcome you all as British citizens."

Tessie Clarke, who is from the Philippines, has been living with her husband Steven for 16 years and was given her full citizen status at yesterday's ceremony.

They now live in Stapleford with their seven-year-old daughter, Olivia.

She said: "It was a really strange thing when I first came here actually, I didn't adapt straight away.

"I've got my daughter here, I've got my family - it's my home now."

APPLICATIONS for taxi licences in a Nottinghamshire borough plagued with submissions from drivers outside the county have almost halved.

Figures obtained by The Post show that an average of 70 taxi licences have been applied for in Gedling since a knowledge test was introduced in May.

In the 12 months before the test was introduced, the borough saw an average of 135 requests a month – 1,629 in the financial year 2013-2014.

Nick Wood, operations manager at Alert Cars Ltd in High Street, Arnold, welcomed the news.

He said: "We found the problem with all the drivers coming from all over was that is slowed the application process down. You would wait more than 12 weeks to get a driver licensed."

Mr Wood said all his local drivers took the test and not one failed.

"It's better for local drivers now," said Mr Wood. "I heard that quite a few out-of-town drivers failed the test. That should speed up the process and it already seems like it's making a difference. Customers want drivers who know the area. Mine do, and by having this test it only helps."

Gedling had become a hotspot for drifting applications as it saw 1,629 between 2013 and 2014. In the city, 420 applied in the same timeframe while Broxtowe had 211 requests and Rushcliffe just seven.

The figures, requested through the Freedom of Information Act, show that there was more than twice the number of applications in Gedling than the three other authorities combined.

Applications in Gedling rose from 720 in 2011-12 to 1,017 in 2012-13 and 1,629 last year. There have been 567 applications since May this year.

Gedling Borough Council reported applications from driver from as far away as Plymouth and many drivers from Derby had been whizzing down the A52 since Derby City Council introduced its own knowledge test.

Mark Keenan, managing director at Western Cars in Derby said: "I'm glad to hear Gedling have done something about it. Drivers were getting their badges in Gedling but working in Derby. A lot of them didn't know the city at all.

"But we still have the problem. They have started going to councils in Birmingham because they haven't got a knowledge test yet."

But in April, more than 100 drivers from outside of the borough protested against the introduction of a knowledge test outside Gedling's council house in Arnot Hill Park Arnold.

They said the £35 test was an unneeded extra cost on top of paying for their plates as well as cars that are less than five years old and a full annual service history.

Deputy council leader Councillor Michael Payne said reducing the number of applications means the council is ensuring the highest standard of drivers for local people.

"The knowledge test has been a further step in improving the quality of the taxi service in the borough," he said.

"We have got some top quality drivers in Gedling and we would expect those who operate in the borough to pass."

Councillor Payne took the test himself, and passed.

"We are not asking for anything unreasonable. Regular drivers in the borough should be able to pass. I think residents in Gedling would expect their taxi drivers to know where they are going."